Senate Higher Education Committee votes to pass bill to curtail university DEI programs

The Georgia Senate Higher Education Committee on an early Monday morning voted to pass Senate Bill 120, as amended, after a brief debate about academic freedom, recruitment and the scope of the bill.

The measure, presented to the committee by Senator Harmon, would restrict state funding and activities tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs at institutions that receive taxpayer dollars; an amendment offered on the floor narrowed the bill’s immediate scope to public institutions. The committee approved the amended bill by voice/count, with the chair recording a 6-2 tally in favor.

Senator Harmon, the bill’s author, described SB 120 as “a necessary step to restore academic excellence and fairness in our colleges” and argued that some DEI initiatives “have become ideological filters that stifle free speech” and “promote a culture of division rather than unity.” He told the committee, “By passing 120, we will affirm that Georgia's valued education [is] based on skill, knowledge, and hard work, and we ensure that all students, regardless of background, are treated equally and given the same opportunities to succeed.”

Committee members pressed the author on potential consequences. Senator Jones asked whether the bill’s restrictions had been considered with respect to recruiting students and faculty; Jones said, “has there been have you considered basically, like, the impact that this may have on recruiting, you know, your students or even faculty who maybe want to actually participate or be part of the institution that kinda has these, diversity inclusion kinda programs?”

Senator Harmon responded that he had spoken with people who feel excluded or fearful of reprisal and emphasized “freedom of speech, freedom of thought, a freedom of disagreement even without retribution” on campuses the state funds.

Senator Wright raised the question of academic freedom at public institutions, asking whether the bill would interfere with the long‑standing concept that “our campuses, our professors, our institutions, have academic freedom, without political interference.” Harmon said he understood the concept and reiterated concerns he had heard from constituents about fear of retaliation in classrooms.

Senator Beach asked about how state funds to private institutions are restricted, noting that when the state grants money to a private university it is typically “for a specific purpose” and not fungible across unrelated programs; the author and committee staff agreed that state grants to private institutions are usually targeted. The transcript also records discussion of the HOPE program as a separate student‑focused benefit.

Senator Hostetter said he had concerns about including private institutions immediately and signaled he would offer an amendment to limit the bill to public institutions or address private institutions later. Senator Hovstad later offered a textual amendment to the bill (described in committee as edits to lines 17–20, including adding a word on line 17, striking a word on line 18 and deleting lines 19–20, section c). The amendment was moved and seconded and was adopted on the committee floor; Senator Moore registered opposition to that amendment during the roll call.

After adopting the amendment, the committee considered the underlying bill as amended. Senator Moore moved to pass SB 120; Senator Payne seconded. The chair counted raised hands and recorded the final committee tally as 6 in favor and 2 opposed, and said, “Motion carries.” The committee chair then adjourned the meeting.

The transcript does not record individual roll‑call votes by senator for the final tally, nor does it state the next formal legislative step for the bill in this excerpt. The meeting record identifies the bill reference LC 610182S as the working copy considered in committee and includes discussion of public and private institution funding restrictions and the HOPE student program.